Chewing gum base



Patented Aug. 22, 1950 CHEWING GUM BASE Boris N. Lougovoy, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as-

signor to. American Chicle Company, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,390

I 1 Claim.

The characteristic of my invention is that it provides a satisfactory chewing gum base incorporating one or more of several synthetic resins which possess advantages, but which heretofore have not been adapted for use, in chewing gum bases which closely simulate bases having high proportions of natural chicle. Thus commercial chewing gum bases containing substantial amounts of polyvinyl acetate have been attempted, but have been found inferior due to the dead plastic character of the chew. Due to the very limited solubility and compatibility of polyvinyls with rubber or natural gums it has not been possible to use the polyvinyls in such connection as to any substantial quantity. This lack of solubility and compatibility is particularly noticeable with crepe rubber and with natural gums containing rubber-like gutta, such as jelutong and the Perillos.

By means of the invention 1 am' able to provide a high-grade chewing gum base incorporating substantial proportions of synthetic resins with natural elastomers or crude gums, the resins being, for example, polyvinyl acetate resins, modified styrene resins and polyvinyl resins, either singly or in combination. This is accomplished by employing in the base an agent which renders the synthetic resins capable of either blending with the rubber materials and/or crude gums or of neutralizing the normal effect of the synthetic resins in impairing the original elastic properties of such rubber materials and crude gums.

Such agent is a polymer of the general composition (SC2H4OC.H2OC2H4S), the group to be called, for brevity, T elastomers." The physical properties of these polymers can be varied from soft plastic to firm rubbery materials. As in all cases of high polymers, their solubility and compatibility with other materials change with the degree of polymerization. Polymers of the above type, having a rather wide softening point (mercury method) from about 45 C. to about 110 0., are found to be suitable for the purpose of this invention. The choice of specific polymer, within the above range of softening point, depends upon the nature of the modifying materials, such as resins and waxes employed in a chewing gum base. By the proper selection of the type of polymer, the desired degree of elasticity of the chew can be obtained. For most purposes, I prefer to use T elastomers having softening points around 100 C. to 108 C. These elastomers can be used either in a completely coagulated and dehydrated form or in a semi-coagulated stage in the form of a filter press cake.

The addition of a T elastomer to a mixture of de-polymerized rubber and polyvinyl acetate accomplishes the mutual blending, thus permitting the introduction of rubber into the combination with polyvinyl acetate.

The following materials made by the Thiokol Corporation may be mentioned as examples of T elastomers suitable for the purpose:

Softening point, C.

Coagulum P-38C 71 Coagulum P-35C 107 Coagulum P-36C 49 Coagulum GR-G 105 Coagulum 03-1 or CB-Z Coagulum P-69C Around 100 In order to obtain the desired chewing characteristics in a gum base, it is important that the elastomeric component has definite elastic properties. With respect to chewing gum bases, the suitability of an elastomer can be to a great extent'judged by its softening or melting point, and by the measurements of its rubberiness in addition, of course. to the proper compatibilities with the other constituents. The first physical constant may be determinedv by the conventional mercury method, and the second one by plastometer measurements. Below are given plastometer measurements of T elastomers, as against de-polymerized crepe rubber of the grade commonly employed in chewing gum base. The measurements were made by Mooneys plastometer. is given to illustrate the degree of depolymeriza- Another material which can be used to advantage in the presence of T elastomers is modifled polystyrene resins, such as the commercial resins known as Piccolastics. This type of resin. is also very attractive for chewing gum users, because of its elastic character. The Piccolastic resins either do not blend-with rubber materials and crude gums or very seriously impart their original elastic properties. As. in the case of Reference to non-de-polymerized rubber polyvinyls, these disadvantages are obviated in the presence of T elastomers.

The following examples will illustrate the foregoing, but 'it should be understood that the proportions given are solely for purposes of illustration, and that they can be modified in the process of adjusting the desired properties of the finished material. I also do not intend to limit myself to specific selections of complementary materials, such as resins, waxes, and softeners which may be substituted with other products having similar properties. In the examples below the following materials are given by their trade names:

Piccolastics-modifled styrene resins-manufactured by the Pennsylvania Industrial Chemical Corp.

Gelva-polyvinyl resins-manufactured by the Shawlnigan Products Corp; the number following the name designates the viscosity of the polymer.

Vlnylites-or PVA--polyvinyl acetate resinsmade by Carbon 8: Carbide Chemical Corporation.

Arochem 345-a modified terpene condensate M. P. 110-115 C.made by Strock and Wittenberg.

Santowaxes-terphenylsmade by the Monsanto Chemical Co. The letters M, O or P indicate metha, ortho or para isomers.

Softeners-when not specified, indicate a mixture of 2 parts lanolin, 2 parts Carbowax 4000, and 1 part soya lecithin.

Example Example Example I II III Depolymerized crepe rubber l5 15 15 T Coagulum, P-38C l 10 T Coagulum, P350-- l0 Bantowax M 20 20 16 Gclva. 2%-- 25 25 25 8oitener..-- l6 15 10 Caudelllla Wax- 10 Talc 15 16 15 Example VI Depolymerized crepe rubber l0 T-Elastomer, Git-6 l8 Arochem 345 18 Gelva, 2% 3o Candelilla Wax l2 Carbowax 4000 5 Lanolin 5 w Monostearin 2 Example VII Depolymerized crepe rubber T Elastomer CB-l w Arochem 345 15 Gelva, 2% 25 Candelilla Wax 10 Softener 10 Talc l5 20 1 Used in filter cake form.

Example Example Example vm 1x x Natural Gum-Chilte. 10 Piccolastic D-l00 Special l0 l0 l0 'I Elastomer (EB-1.-.-.- l5 10 T Elasmmer P-69C 1s Arochem 34s 15 1s 10 Gclva, 2 26 25 PVA 79, Vlsc l 25 Candelilla Wax l2 l2 l2 Softener 8 8 8 30 Talc 1s 15 15 Example XI 75 parts 01 Base in Example VIII 25 parts of Gum Chicle In the claim, the term natural gum" includes crude gums, rubber materials and rubber-like materials.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as fol- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 1,479,330 Snelling Jan. 1, .1924 2,007,965 Ellis July 16, 1935 2,069,477 Manson Feb. 2, 1937 2301.331 Schantz Nov. 10. 1942 

